2009 Mercury Sable

Until Ford discontinued the brand in 2011, Mercury sat in the middle of the company’s lineup—fancier than Ford but not as luxurious as Lincoln. The brand had its heyday from the 1950s through the 1980s, with cars like the Cougar, Monterey, Montclair, and Turnpike Cruiser still commonplace at classic car shows. Nearly all recent Mercury models were based on Ford counterparts. The Mercury Milan was a gussied-up Ford Fusion and the Mercury Grand Marquis was a more comfortable take on the Ford Crown Victoria. Since the brand has been gone for many years, most Mercury vehicles will lack modern convenience and safety features, and used examples will likely have high mileage.

The Montego was renamed Sable in 2008. The Montego/Sable and their twin, the Ford Five Hundred/Taurus) are a roomy sedan that emphasizes comfort and good ergonomics. It features an elevated seating position for good outward vision and cabin access. The rear seat is immense. Power comes from an underpowered and unpolished 3.0-liter V6 engine that is mated to either a six-speed automatic on FWD models or a continuously variable transmission on AWD models, which were somewhat sluggish at launch. It has a comfortable ride and handles with commendable agility considering its size. 2008 also brought a  a smoother, more powerful 3.5-liter V6. Handling is responsive and secure.